(COAP) for high school students in 1995.

The objective is to ultimately generate interest from and prepare more Bermudians for our corporate administration support functions as a career option.

In addition, the programme is designed to support the efforts of the education system for the personal and career development of students and to instil desired attributes expected of a good employee through mentoring.

Students participating in the initial pilot programme were Kammy Smith (Berkeley Institute), Keisha Bassett (Mount St. Agnes), Faith Bridges (Mount St. Agnes), Chrystal Cassidy (Warwick Academy) and Anna Lopes (Warwick Academy). Three continued on in clerical positions for summer employment prior to rejoining the Programme in 1996.

Eleven new COAP students commenced the second year of our programme. The students will for the most part spend one day a month getting exposure to basic corporate administration aspects under the guidance of CD&P mentors throughout most of our corporate related departments.

They will also be observing generally to pattern good employee skills and attributes whilst with us. We offer students from each of the Island's high schools the opportunity to participate in our in-house day release training programme this year, with the prospect of eventually applying for our COAP Scholarship and continuing our apprenticeship programme after qualification at (local or overseas) college level.

Those successful in the training and apprenticeship programme will offer entry level employment with assignment to administer a portfolio of client companies.

Rationale There is an apparent shortage of suitably skilled support staff candidates: a) Suitably skilled support staff do exist but are otherwise securely employed and not seeking alternative employment.

b) There are applicants who are unemployed but without comparable qualifications or experiences; often the foundation and mindset already established (or NOT established) prevents success if hired.

c) Agency (foreign) temps are usually suitably qualified by virtue of their comparable level of experience. However, overdependency on this resource undermines the firm's desired efforts towards Bermudianisation.

d) It appears that the Bermuda College is not attracting the desired number and calibre of high school graduates to train in their office programmes; this career area is not esteemed in the light that it should be by promising students.

e) Businesses have an obligation to assist schools in preparing students for "the real world''.

Programme Conyers Dill & Pearman established a corporate office training/scholarship programme targeting high school seniors (15-17 year olds).

Seriously interested candidates would be selected through a formal selection process after a presentation has been made to relevant school groups.

The programme includes: a) A pre-scholarship period of Day Release activities while still in high school; a non-salaried arrangement. The student would be exposed to our corporate management areas and receive basic instruction in corporate aspects.

Assessments during this period would be taken into consideration when determining scholarship.

b) Summer employment; salaried position to assist with clerical tasks in Corporate Management areas.

c) Granting of a scholarship to the Bermuda College or financially compatible overseas programme to complete (a relevant full-time studies certification or degree programme). Day release if feasible; holiday (salaried) employment if desired.

d) i) Post-scholarship employment with CD&P for a designated apprenticeship period. Employment would start with a stint as a Floater Assistant with the stipulation that internal training and evening classes for the Bermuda college Corporate Practise courses Part I and Part II be completed.

ii) Reassign as a `junior' assistant following successful completion of courses. Assign to portfolio if favourably assessed and offered permanent employment at end of two year period; (trainee should be approximately 21 years old then).

APPRENTICE SCHEME -- Sandra Cann, Director of Human Resources, Conyers Dill and Pearman.